Thursday-Wednesday, January  23-29, 1992
AFL footy in the northern-most part of the nation drew an estimated 10,000 to the opening of Darwin’s Football Park new $7-million grandstand at Marrara as GEELONG reversed the trend of the usually steam-rolling Buffaloes when the Cats blitzed the Northern Territorians, 27.9-171 to 11.7-73; the AFL pledged an increase from $49,000 to $185,000 development funding in NT ...

Thursday-Wednesday, January 30-February 05, 1992
<||> 11-goals by the Crows in the third quarter could not save ADELAIDE from an 11-point defeat by 1991 grand finalists WEST COAST, 20.7-127 to 18.8-116 at Football Park in front of 29,736 fanatical SA fans … surgery to a right hand likely to sideline Crows centreman ANDREW JARMAN for six weeks thereby missing the main opening …

<||> with MELBOURNE at HMAS Cerberus and ST KILDA at Puckapunyal, pre-season preparations had a ‘war-room’ feel …

<||> FOOTSCRAY overran COLLINGWOOD to complete an encouraging 27pt victory at Sunshine’s Skinner Reserve, 20.15-135 to 16.12-108 in view of 8500 supporters, Both the Bulldogs and Magpies went into the match with notable absentees but one Collingwood inclusion was BRAD HARDIE wearing his third set of League colours …

<||> at Waverley, on an energy-sapping afternoon, 7000 watched a revitalised Allan Jeans-generated RICHMOND take on and defeat GEELONG, 19.10-124 to 13.13-91, with full-forward MATTHEW HOGG kicking seven for the Tigers …

<||> after being carried from the field in Sunday’s practice against Footscray, Collingwood forward DOUG BARWICK (147 games, 217 goals) to undergo knee reconstruction certain to sideline him for 1992 …

<||> talented ruckman STEVE O’DWYER the first player to be investigated by SANDY ROBERTSON the League’s special investigation officer, Dwyer is given the all-clear for his transfer from Melbourne to Richmond. Though no details were released it was believed deals for transfers by GREG WILLIAMS (Sydney to Carlton), GARY PERT (Fitzroy-Collingwood), STUART WIGNEY (Footscray-Sydney) and SIMON MINTON-CONNELL (Carlton-Sydney) were still under examination …

<||> the Tasmanian Football League launches a study expected to last six months in the viability of their State entering a team in the AFL – a possibility or just a wild dream? …

<||> Fitzroy axes RICHARD OSBORNE as captain, returning 28-year old PAUL ROOS (209 games) as on-field leader …

Thursday-Wednesday, February 06-12, 1992
<||> RUBEN PELERMAN relinquishes ownership of the BRISBANE BEARS as a group described as ‘prominent businessmen’ take control. The Brisbane license has been invested in a newly formed company entitled ‘New Bears Limited’ or ‘The Brisbane Bears Football Club’ with the club’s memorandum and articles of association expected to be in place within two months. Current board members ALAN PIPER and RAY BOLWELL have taken out 10-year interest-free debentures. After pouring millions-of-dollars into the Bears over a six-year period, Pelerman will retain his lease of Carrara Oval through the Albert Shire Council …

<||> three field umpires may be used in senior AFL matches – trials will be conducted in practice and Foster’s Cup matches …

<||> Chief Commissioner ROSS OAKLEY expresses continuing concern about the long-term survival of some Melbourne clubs …

<||> 14,926 see RICHMOND hold on to win by four points in a nail-biting Foster’s Cup opening at Waverley against the BRISBANE BEARS, 12.11-83 to 11.13-79 …

<||> Collingwood captain TONY SHAW battling a persistent back injury …

<||> FITZROY surprise MELBOURNE with a 26pt win in practice at Bulleen Park … WEST COAST 14.13-97 down COLLINGWOOD 8.16-64 in the Foster’s Cup tie played at 11,000 in Darwin …

<||> HAWTHORN 18.18-126 accounted for SCRAY 13.12-90 in practice at Waverley …

<||> another big Football Park crowd of 21,208 saw ADELAIDE 18.12-120 down ESSENDON 8.13-61 in a trial …

<||> the Victorian State Government orders Collingwood Council to sell Victoria Park to Collingwood Football Club …

<||> giant West Coast ruckman LAURIE KEENE expected to announce retirement after six operations over four years have failed to remedy an achilles tendon heel injury …

<||> Melbourne ruckman and 1991 Brownlow winner JIM STYNES set to sign a new three-year deal …

<||> AFL Commission fines Carlton player GREG WILLIAMS $25,000 and deregisters him until April 30 after he pleaded “guilty to not having made a full disclosure of all football payments in the 1990 season as required under AFL Player Rules.

SYDNEY was found guilty (and fined $50,000) by virtue of its player at the time having failed to disclose all football payments in 1990” as stated by AFL Chief Commissioner ROSS OAKLEY. The Sydney club had $25,000 of their fine suspended subject to displaying no further breaches of the provisions in the next two seasons. Williams will not be able to play until Saturday May 2nd …

<||> CARLTON in practice at the Showgrounds demolished ESSENDON, 17.6-108 to 6.5-41 …

<||> ST KILDA without TONY LOCKETT (hamstring) were pipped by GEELONG at Waverley 9.20-74 to 9.17-71 in the Foster’s Cup where 20,916 attended yet the match still gained a 25 rating on Channel Seven … Saints half-back DEAN RICE badly injures his right knee and may not play again this season …

Thursday-Wednesday, February 13-19, 2002
<||> Suggestions that Greg Williams suspension case is heading for a court challenge …

<||> DOUG HAWKINS reappointed on-field leader of Footscray with SIMON ATKINS as vice-captain …

<||> in weekend practice matches – FITZROY inflicted a 115pt thrashing on RICHMOND at Bulleen Park, 28.12-180 to 10.5-65 …

<||> NORTH threw-off a three-quarter long lethargy to kick 13-goals to none and continue ESSENDON’s pre-season losses, 23.23-161 to 16.9-105 at Boronia where the three-umpire system was trialled involving PETER CAMERON, DENIS RICH and BRYAN SHEEHAN; two draw-backs were occasional over-lapping of authority and a tendency for umpires to get too close to the play …

<||> HAWTHORN headed mid-way into the final term at Waverley slammed on goals at will to down SYDNEY 15.13-103 to 8.17-55 but a highlight for the Swans was the strong return by ruckman GARETH JOHN now fully-recovered from his serious throat injury of last season …

<||> in the Foster’s Cup on Saturday night at VFL Park to 14,956 fans FOOTSCRAY’s young guns fired in a 7-goal defeat of Melbourne, 15.13-103 to 7.19-61 – the Demons were without ALLEN JAKOVICH (71 goals in 1991) who for disciplinary reasons played in the two’s …

<||> on Tuesday, the 1991 AFL Annual Report showed clubs shared a record $16.8-million (nearly $1.1m each) from the season’s operations compared with $16.2m from the prior year. Overall, the League’s operating income increased by $3 million to $33,357,000, due mainly from memberships at the Waverley complex. Adelaide and West Coast’s ability to draw large home-ground attendances boosted home-and-away crowds to 3,797,177. There was a further 381,707 for the seven finals giving a 1991 aggregate of 4,178,884. However, attendances in Victoria were down 20 per cent. AFL assets were shown at $57 million, with a balance sheet valuation of $39.5 million for Waverley Park, but the true value of the stadium is listed as $112.2 million …

<||> the AFL told Carlton it was entitled to appeal and listed options available to challenge the penalties handed out to centreman GREG WILLIAMS but pointed out grounds of an appeal were limited as Williams pleaded guilty …

<||> GEELONG advised GAVIN EXELL (53 games since 1987) and MARTY CHRISTENSEN (69 games, 1986-91) their services are no longer required …

<||> CARLTON’s campaign was soured with JUSTIN MADDEN and JON DOROTICH reported for striking as the Blues suffered a 40pt hiding from ADELAIDE at Football Park to a below-expectations crowd of 35,225. In an often spiteful match, the Crows DAVID BROWN was also booked as the South Australians took control of the last half to advance in the Foster’s Cup tournament, 14.6-90 to 7.8-50 …

<||> GEELONG champion GARY ABLETT sent a scare through the Cats camp when injured in practice against FOOTSCRAY at Skinner Reserve. The Bulldogs announced they had dumped defender MICHAEL FORD (96 games, 1985-91) ...

Thursday-Wednesday, February 20-26, 1992
<||> A left knee injury suffered in Wednesday’s Foster’s Cup in Adelaide could mean the end of the season for Carlton ruckman JAMIE DUNLOP …

<||> Geelong are relieved when GARY ABLETT is cleared a serious shoulder damage; only a nerve was pinched against Scray …

<||> bid made for inclusion in AFL by Canberra-based committee headed by local chief magistrate RON CAHILL whose aim was to have a Melbourne team relocated to the nation’s capital within five years …

<||> Carlton’s LUKE SULLIVAN added to list reported at Football Park following video scrutiny …

<||> in weekend games, 13,500 turned out at Lavington Oval to see Gary Buckenara’s SYDNEY SWANS (led by DENIS CARROLL for his 7th season as Captain) streak away from a sluggish ESSENDON to win by 61pts, 20.18-138 to 11.11-77 in a Foster’s Cup tie …

<||> on Saturday night at Waverley Park, HAWTHORN advanced when they withstood a spirited RICHMOND revival to win by 28pts, 20-12-132 to 15.14-104 to 21,893 fans who saw Hawk full-forward JASON DUNSTALL hit form with nine goals …

<||> the AFL Commission announced it will strike an award for the best player in the Foster’s Cup night grand final named in honour of Hawk champion MICHAEL TUCK who retired last season after 426 premiership games and 29 night appearances …

<||> at the Showgrounds MELBOURNE and ST KILDA both with plenty of stars missing but the Saints came away with a 35pt win, 19.18-132 to 15.9-99 … FITZROY and NORTH MELBOURNE took footy to the North Hobart Oval on Sunday for their Foster’s Cup match where just 5256 fans saw the Lions win a tight one, 13.12-90 to 12.16-88 …

<||> keeping in the spirit of the World Cup, Footscray at Sunshine’s Skinner Oval kicked a cricket score of 33.18-216 to defeat a Geelong Reserve outfit 3.12-30 … CARLTON’s dismal start to the season soured further when the Tribunal on Monday handed down suspensions to JON DOROTICH (four games), JUSTIN MADDEN (three), LUKE O’SULLIVAN (two) resulting from the Foster’s Cup tie in Adelaide – the Crows DAVID BROWN was cleared of his striking charge …

<||> the AFL Commission revamps the Final Six playoff system after just one season. In a simple explanation, the first and second teams will still meet in the first week of the finals in the Qualifying Final; the third-placed team will advance to the Second Semi Final if it beats the sixth-placed team in the Second Elimination Final. However, if the sixth team causes an upset it will only advance to the First Semi Final, while the winner of the fourth versus fifth of the First Elimination Final will move to the Second Semi. The fifth-placed team could play in the Second Semi Final after only one match if it defeated the fourth team, and the third team also lost. The AFL will continue to schedule finals interstate but now, non-Victorian teams must finish first, third or fourth to play a final at their venue. Changes to the system would be reviewed again at the end of the season …

<||> Football Park on Tuesday night erupted into a bruising and bloody practice match between ADELAIDE and COLLINGWOOD – the Crows won the match by 10pts and reportedly came out on top in the fights as well; there were no bookings but by Thursday the AFL were calling for available film and video of the incidents …

<||> HAWTHORN centre half-forward DERMOTT BRERETON likely to be sidelined for several weeks after a bone-scan revealed a compression in his hip; a second opinion was being sought from the United States by the club’s orthopaedic surgeon PETER WILSON …

<||> GEELONG brilliantly led by sharp-shooting full-forward BILLY BROWNLESS (9 goals) attacked all night and withstood a final term fightback to dump the Eagles from the Foster’s at Waverley, 15.9-99 to 11.12-78 in front of 8367 fans …

Thursday-Wednesday, February 27–March 04, 1992
<||> Two charges laid from video – Adelaide rover EDDIE HOCKING was suspended two weeks for striking JAMES MANSON (Col) in the fiery practice match; West Coast full-forward PETER SUMICH with striking Geelong full-back MARK NEELD, the charge still to be heard …

<||> the AFL Commission fined HAWTHORN $28,500, the exact amount they had breached their $1.5m salary cap. In accepting the ruling the Hawks will not appeal but will review future payments to injured players which tipped them over the ceiling in 1991. Sydney signing STUART WIGNEY is fined $1000 for ‘giving unsatisfactory evidence” to the Commission in his transfer from Footscray – neither club was fined …

<||> the AFL confirmed there would be no changes to the penalties handed out to GREG WILLIAMS despite a letter of protest from the Blues …

<||> player purges continue — CARLTON delete IAN HERMAN, DOMINIC FOTIA and ANDREW McKINNON; the SYDNEY SWANS axed MARK ATHORN and BRIAN STANISLAUS while BRISBANE delisted DAVID CAMERON …

<||> GEELONG forward TREVOR SPENCER will undergo a right-knee reconstruction for the second time in two years. During his 33-game career of six seasons from 1985 with MELBOURNE, Spencer missed 1990 with the same disability …

<||> in practice, RICHMOND defeat MELBOURNE at Skinner Reserve, 19.14-128 to 18.12-120 and adding to John Northey’s woes, Demon centre half-back SIMON EISHOLD badly injures a knee …

<||> on the Sunshine Coast, ESSENDON made the most on windy conditions at Kawana Waters to score an easy win over a lacklustre BRISBANE under lights, 1913.127 to 9.8-62 …

<||> on Saturday night at Waverley, ADELAIDE dashed FOOTSCRAY’s Foster’s creams as the Crows controlled most of their quarter-final Cup tie winning by 39pts, 15.10-100 to 9.7-61 in front of 10,765 fans …

<||> on Sunday afternoon FITZROY were clear-cut 61pt victors over a dismal SYDNEY who were scoreless for two quarters (first and third) in their Foster’s quarter-final at Waverley to a hardy 5280 spectators who braved all-game rain, seeing the Swans add but one behind in the last half; at the siren – 2.5-17 to the Lions 10.15-75 … Fitzroy forward PETER SARTORI (traded from Carlton in November) was carried off with a badly jarred right knee …

<||> Geelong coach MALCOLM BLIGHT expresses strong opinions – that the Foster’s Cup knockout series would be better as a round-robin contest taking matches to the Victorian country – he also questions the suitability of Waverley as a night venue …

<||> Saints defender DEAN RICE quits after failing to reach terms on new contract – Rice played 55 games making his VFL debut with Carlton in 1983, moving to Moorabbin in 1985 …

<||> following arthroscopic surgery injured Fitzroy forward PETER SARTORI likely to be sidelined at least 12 weeks …

<||> HAWTHORN steam-rolled its way to another Foster’s Cup grand final with a 53pt thrashing of GEELONG at Waverley on Wednesday night to 20,103 who paid $76,856.50. The reigning day and night premier showed it was still the measuring stick of the AFL competition as the Hawks amassed 20.14-134 to 12.9-81 with the two-pronged forward set-up of DUNSTALL (7 goals) and BRERETON (3) again proving a match winner …

<||> only two players – Sydney’s GLEN PAGE and ANDREW McNISH (WCE) nominate for the March 12 draft however, other players who were formerly registered but no longer on a team’s list included PAUL TUDDENHAM (Col), ANDREW KRAKOUER (NM) with Geelong’s AUSTIN McCRABB and GAVIN EXELL also eligible. At the draft, clubs will finalise their lists to a total of 52 players; Brisbane and Sydney will have lists of 60 …

<||> WAYNE SCHWASS (NM) to miss about 10 weeks after breaking his thumb in an intra-club match …

<||> Tribunal – pleading guilty PETER SUMICH (WCE) is suspended for the first time in his 126-game senior career. His two game suspension was for striking MARK NEELD (Gee) on Feb 26th …

<||> former Tiger champion JACK DYER to be honoured at the grand final of the Premier’s Cup at the MCG on March 28. The 4-week knockout series involves 16 teams, two each from the VFA, VAFA, VCFL and VMFL with the best player in the grand final being awarded the Jack Dyer Medal …

Thursday-Wednesday, March 05-12, 1992
<||> With a blistering first half FITZROY withstood an ADELAIDE fightback to win their Foster’s semi-final at Waverley to a slim 7635 crowd who paid $24,701. Winning 15.5-95 to the Crows 9.10-64, Fitzroy go into their first night grand final since their 1978 win over North …

<||> in weekend practice matches – COLLINGWOOD put in a great display for 9000 people at the City Oval Ballarat on Saturday with GARY PERT in dazzling form; the Magpies blitzed MELBOURNE by 118pts, 26.20-176 to 8.10-58 continuing the Demons woeful pre-season form, further highlighted as the Redlegs dumped STEVEN CLARK and JAY VINEY fro their list … ESSENDON got back into stride with a five-goal win over a depleted RICHMOND combination at Skinner Reserve, 19.10-134 to 15.14-104 … at Subiaco in 31 degrees, WEST COAST suffered injuries to key players CRAIG TURLEY and MICHAEL BRENNAN yet still thumped FOOTSCRAY by 93pts, 21.19-145 to 7.10-52 … on Sunday at Skinner to 25000, ST KILDA with Tony Lockett kicking five were flattered by only a 24pt defeat from BRISBANE who cruised to a morale-lifting win, 18.19-127 to 15.13-103. The Bears successfully tried a twin forward attack of LAURENCE SCHACHE with WA import JOHN HUTTON … at Traralgon, GREG WILLIAMS may have picked up 20 possessions for CARLTON but it failed to stop NORTH MELBOURNE comfortably accounting for the Blues, 22.21-153 to 17.17-119 with JOHN LONGMIRE booting seven for the Kangas – the match was notable as North trainers took the field wearing surgical gloves setting an example to the public of how to respond to bleeding players …

<||> WEST COAST announced they would retain LAURIE KEENE on their list, expecting him to recover from a chronic heel injury which sidelined him all of 1991 …

<||> the Eagles re-appointed JOHN WORSFOLD as Captain for 1992 …

<||> Carlton named DAVID GLASCOTT as captain of their Reserves side …

<||> MICHAEL TUCK and wife FAY selected to unfurl Hawthorn’s 1991 Premiership pennant before the round one match against Geelong at Waverley on March 21 …

Thursday-Wednesday, March 12-18, 1992
<||> ST KILDA’s canniness in the internal March draft continued when they picked up three talented players from rival clubs – MICHAEL FORD (Fsc), DALE KICKETT (Fit & WCE) and STEVEN CLARK who played 18 matches with Melbourne last year. WEST COAST pulled the biggest surprise naming retired Essendon captain TIM WATSON presently under contract as a Channel Seven commentator and who says he won’t make a comeback. SYDNEY had five draff choices adding DAMIAN MALLOW (Ade), ALAN THORPE (Fit), ALAN McKELLAR (Rch & Fsc), PHIL KRAKOUER (Fsc & NM) and they re-drafted ANDREW PECK. Other draft highlights, CARLTON opted for PAUL TUDDENHAM (Col); FITZROY picked up GAVIN EXELL (Gee); NORTH drafted ALEX ISCHENKO (WCE & Bri); MELBOURNE went for WAYNE HENWOOD (Syd) and ANDY GOODWIN (Rch); HAWTHORN picked RICKY NIXON (StK) and AUSTIN McCRABB (Gee), while MARK ATHORN will move to CARLTON and his fourth League club – he started with Footscray for 17 games in 1987-88-89, next was 21 games for Fitzroy in 1990 then 15 with Sydney in 1991. Former Eagle STEVE MALAXOS and Brisbane’s DAVID CAMERON were shunned, apparently due to high contract figures put on their heads …

<||> at the Kangas AGM, North Melbourne Chairman RON CASEY announced a loss of $371,437 last season …

<||> ESSENDON wingman KEIRON SPORN suspended for one match for striking ANDY PRESCOTT (Rch) in a trial …

<||> AFL players bleeding uncontrollably must be immediately removed from the field under guidelines drawn up by the AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION. Other recommendations – all players and personnel must have Hepatitis B vaccinations; in an accident where is concern, confidential blood tests for both players; bloodied jumpers to be changed at the field opportunity; medical and para-medical; personnel should wear gloves; cuts and scratches to be covered as soon as possible. Both the AFL Trainers and AFL Players Associations voiced concern they had not been consulted …

<||> FITZROY’s long overdue taste of the bigtime was short-lived. It took HAWTHORN only 11 minutes of the second quarter to snuff out hopes the Lions had in Saturday night’s Foster’s Cup grand final before 49,453 who paid $202,944 and Waverley. Ahead by 11pts at the 18-minute mark, the Hawks slammed on seven goals – DARREN JARMAN kicked an easy goal then TONY HALL blasted away with three in as many minutes to be followed by PAUL HUDSON who did the same, giving Hawthorn a 50pt buffer at half-time. Winning by 65pts, 19.14-128 to 8.15-63 and collecting $103,000 plus another night flag HAWTHORN in all have won 17 premierships; eight night and nine day, including five pre-season Cups in the past eight seasons. PAUL HUDSON received the inaugural MICHAEL TUCK MEDAL for best player, with the Lions ALASTAIR LYNCH a close second …

<||> in practice games – at Subiaco, WEST COAST 31.17-203 devastated SYDNEY 10.6-66 with rookie DANIEL METROPOLIS kicking nine for the Eagles; under lights at Carrara, MELBOURNE came up with a win but added to their list with worrying ankle injuries to JIM STYNES and GARRY LYON in their 20.8-128 to 9.11-65 defeat of BRISBANE; the form of GARY ABLETT (30 kicks, five handballs, 10 marks) was an added bonus for GEELONG as they thrashed FOOTSCRAY at Sunshine, 23.15-153 to 11.17-83 with new Cat forward PAUL BROWN kicking eight from a pocket; in a scrappy game on the small West Park Oval in Burnie, CARLTON won by 10pts from ST KILDA with GREG WILLIAMS and CRAIG BRADLEY leading by example, 13.15-93 to 12.11-83; at Kangaroo Flat, RICHMOND suffered a crushing defeat from NORTH MELB, 25.30-180 to 11.12-78 with the Tigers ASHLEY PRESCOTT breaking a collarbone and losing CRAIG LAMBERT with concussion, plus MATTHEW KNIGHTS; at Skinner, COLLINGWOOD with GARY PERT at full back, an eight-goal final term set up a 22pt win over ESSENDON, 17.17-119 to 15.7-97; finally, ADELAIDE’s early-season plans were thrown into disarray when NIGEL SMART had surgery for ruptured shoulder ligaments after Saturday’s trial against Centrals and will miss 8 to 10 weeks …

<||> RICHMOND reported ruckman STEVE O’DWYER had surgery to remove gristle from a knee …

<||> GEELONG signed GARRY HOCKING thru until the end of 1994 …

<||> WEST COAST puts out a feeler to field their Seconds in the WAFL competition … 

<||> at the club’s guernsey presentation, an angry CARLTON prez JOHN ELLIOTT announced the Blues intended to petition the AFL over the GREG WILLIAMS suspension … the AFL receives CARLTON petition of 2500 signatures but Commission denies the Blues thrust to reinstate GREG WILLIAMS …

<||> the SANFL introduce a send-off rule for their senior competition games …

ROUND SIX – Fri-Sat-Sun, April 24-25-26
Sydney 11.10-76, North Melb 18.17-125
Collingwood 17.9-111, Hawthorn 20.15-135
Essendon 18.16-124, Melbourne 19.9-123
Carlton 18.13-121, St Kilda 17.11-113
Richmond 14.12-96, West Coast 14.13-97
Geelong 25.25-175, Fitzroy 11.11-77
Adelaide 19.20-134, Brisbane 11.8-74
bye: Footscray

<||> North selectors dropped six including PETER GERMAN on the eve of his 150th and fought back for a stinging 49pt thrashing of Sydney at the SCG on Friday night … Carlton, defending a 28-year winning Princes Park record over the Saints were under the hammer when TONY LOCKETT (StK) kicked all of his six by half-time and trailed by 24pts but the Blues kicked 7 goals to one in the third; in what was top, desperate, crowd-pleasing football, Carlton were 8pt winners of a game, either would have been unlucky to lose … Hawthorn, facing a string of three losses for the first time since 1981 slammed a previously undefeated but sluggish Collingwood to an Anzac Day crowd of 72,765 at Waverley with the Hawks back on track with a 24pt victory plus DUNSTALL (Haw) adding another nine … the Demons struggled from the depths led 90 to 45 at half-time at the MCG and by 47 two minutes into the last term but Essendon blasted away 8.2-50 to snatch a cliff-hanger by one point, staging one of the all-time League comebacks … West Coast climbed into the top six and dealt Richmond a heart-breaking one-point loss at the MCG on Sunday … 42,759 saw Adelaide always in control against Brisbane at Football Park … Geelong dominated the last-half to thrash a disappointing Fitzroy at Kardinia Park …

<||> Sensation of the round was the after-siren report of St Kilda’s forward champion TONY LOCKETT and Saints fans held their breath as their star headed for his fifth visit to the Tribunal …

<||> Melbourne full-forward ALLEN JAKOVICH had groin surgery with Hawk star JASON DUNSTALL due for hospital to repair a bone spur on his troubled right heel …

<||> building on the Saturday Waverley attendance of 72,765 which paid $313,676.40, AFL crowd figures showed fans topped 200,000 for three consecutive rounds – round 4 drew 202,388, round 5 was 206,990 and the Anzac round gathered 240,630, greater than the split days of 230,970 set in 1981 and better than the previous best round six of 197,022 in 1989 …

<||> with four prior suspensions to his name, Monday’s Tribunal delivered a surprise to TONY LOCKETT when it dismissed the charge before any parties were called to give evidence – the St Kilda player had been charged by field umpire SHANE HARRIS with striking Carlton’s MATTHEW HOGG with an arm on the final siren; Lockett’s advocate successfully submitted it had been a legitimate hip-and-shoulder bump … CRAIG SHOLL (NM) and DAVID STROOPER (Syd) were cleared of striking each other at the SCG on Friday night, but Tribunal chairman NEIL BUSSE levied a $500 fine on North for failing to attend the Sunday sitting …

Thursday-Wednesday, April 30–May 06, 1992

<||> TONY LOCKETT (StK) backed away from automatic suspension when he confirmed his availability for the Vic’s State-of-Origin side to play Western Australia on May 26th …

ROUND SEVEN – Sat-Sun, May 2-3
Hawthorn 25.22-172, Richmond 14.9-93
Melbourne 13.18-96, Sydney 13.18-96
St Kilda 21.13-139, Adelaide 9.11-65
Collingwood 16.20-116, North Melb 9.12-66
Fitzroy 15.12-102, West Coast 11.16-82
Footscray 18.20-128, Carlton 11.6-74
Geelong 37.17-239, Brisbane 11.9-75
bye: Essendon

<||> JASON DUNSTALL kicked a record setting 17 goals at Waverley against the Tigers. The Hawthorn ace had 11 to half-time and across the match had 18 marks, 25 kicks and four handballs for 17.5 and one poster kicking 6, 5, 2 and 4 – the Hawks cantered away by 79pts … the Roos weren’t in the hunt at Vic Park as the Magpies posted their fifth win … neck-and-neck all afternoon the Demons and the Swans at the MCG posted the League’s 115th draw for Melbourne to conclude a 462-match sequence without a tie; the club’s previous draw was in 1971 … an end seemed near for the Crows horror trips to the East when they led 27-1 at Moorabbin 20-minutes in, but the fairytale ended there as the Saints hammered the visitors to win by 74, with TONY LOCKETT gathering the last of his 10 goals on the siren … on Sunday, 1991 grand finalists West Coast were flattered by the 20pt margin as Fitzroy displayed character in their win at North Hobart … 49,406 at the MCG saw Footscray take Carlton apart for the Bulldogs to stay on top of the ladder; the match was GREG WILLIAMS debut for the Blues after his controversial suspension … Brisbane forced to make four last-minute changes then lost captain ROGER MERRETT five seconds into their Carrara match against Geelong which re-wrote the Cats footy history – new record score, new last quarter record, best winning margin, with Geelong forward BILLY BROWNLESS kicking a behind on the siren at 37 minutes setting a new League highest scoring record of 37.17-239 …

<||> frustration at giving away a 50-metre penalty which may have caused JASON DUNSTALL to miss equalling the League goalkicking record cost Hawthorn’s DARREN JARMAN a $500 fine and a severe reprimand from Monday’s Tribunal after he pleaded guilty to disputing umpire PETER CAMERON’s decision …

<||> North chairman BOB ANSETT declares the Roos unanimous support of coach WAYNE SCHIMMELBUSCH as their side languishes in 12th spot with only two wins …

<||> West Coast has sent a surgeon to the United States in a last-ditch effort to resurrect the career of ruckman LAURIE KEENE who hasn’t played since the 1990 finals battling a debilitating achilles tendon injury …

<||> Richmond on the bottom, reports the worst run of injuries with 14 players listed …

<||> Collingwood Council issued a Supreme Court writ against the Collingwood club to resolve the dispute extending back two years over the sale of 6 per cent of Victoria Park where the Social Club stands and a move intended to thwart State Government legislation through a Bill introduced last month to the Victorian Parliament …

<||> lack of corporate sponsorship and poor crowds give FITZROY second-thoughts of playing in Tasmania with the Lions saying they have been losing money switching games from Melbourne to North Hobart Oval …

<||> Victorian selectors named eight new players from 12 clubs in its 32-man squad to play Western Australia on May 26 …

<||> JASON DUNSTALL decides against heel surgery …

Thursday-Wednesday, May 21-27, 1992

ROUND 10 – Fri-Sat-Sun, May 22-23-24
West Coast 17.16-118, Adelaide 11.12-78
Geelong 9.12-66, Collingwood 12.9-81
Melbourne 21.14-140, North Melb 16.8-104
Carlton 18.8-116, Essendon 7.22-64
St Kilda 25.18-168, Brisbane 9.6-60
Footscray 16.11-107, Richmond 13.12-90
Sydney 12.13-85, Hawthorn 21.20-146
bye: Fitzroy

<||> A blistering 8-goal opening by West Coast had Adelaide reeling at the WACA on Friday night. In driving rain 23,046 watched the Eagles spurt away from the Crows and controlled proceedings from the opening bounce to be easy 40pt victors … soft grounds greeted players after several days of rain but it didn’t stop 60,228 turning out at Waverley to see a much-awaited clash. Collingwood trailed Geelong by 28pts, 16 minutes into the second term but it was then the turn of PETER (Mr Magic) DAICOS who kicked four of the next six goals as the Magpies gave the Cats their first taste of pressure football for weeks. Collingwood triumphed simply through a more physical approach – hard-tackling and relentless running yielding a thoroughly deserved win … with eight-straight in the first and 12.1-73 to their credit at half-time, North looked set but Melbourne after a sloppy first half and led with great credit by MICHAEL PICKERING the Demons won through to score their first victory since round two … Richmond tested Footscray into the last quarter coming from a 42pt deficit at the Western Oval, but the Bulldogs found a little extra to pull away for 17pt win, save face and regain top spot … St Kilda mauled Brisbane at Moorabbin by 108pts. TONY LOCKETT celebrating his 150th senior game kicked 12.3 from 11 marks while STEWART LOEWE joined the party with 12 marks, 18 kicks and scored 4.2 … Essendon crashed to Carlton at Princes Park by 52pts kicking 1.11 in the second term, ending with a miserable 7.22. CRAIG BRADLEY shone for the Blues with 31 possessions … at the SCG on Sunday it took Hawthorn just 11 minutes of sizzling football to score seven goals and put the match beyond the reach of the Swans. The match highlight was 7 goals each by SIMON MINTON-CONNELL (Syd) and JASON DUNSTALL (Haw) …

<||> with but 10 of 24 rounds played, the distance of the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ became apparent as matches from the weekend produced victories to most clubs in the top half of the ladder, distancing them from the lower seven clubs. Even before the halfway mark it appeared likely the finalists would come from the present top six of Footscray, Collingwood, Geelong, St Kilda, Hawthorn, Carlton, with Fitzroy and West Coast also in contention. The other clubs – Sydney, North, Essendon, Adelaide, Melbourne, Richmond and Brisbane would more likely be looking forward to another year …

<||> a ticketing-blunder was instrumental for an 8.38pm bounce and a near-to 11.30pm finish of the 77th Victoria-WA meeting at the MCG on Tuesday with only 32,152 attending. The Vics dominated for an easy win with 23.19-157 to 13.12-90. The high-profile GREG WILLIAMS with a knee injury was a late withdrawal. TONY LOCKETT (5 goals) suffered a shoulder injury being replaced in the last five-minutes by the much-valued Fitzroy star RICHARD OSBORNE who sustained a broken right cheekbone in four places in a clash with WA’s JOHN WORSFOLD yet on viewing video no charges were laid – an operation could cause Osborne to miss six weeks …

<||> AFL rescheduled the four-day Queen’s Birthday split round. Moving the Carlton-Geelong clash to Sunday at the MCG for an anticipated 60,000 and matches on four successive days will place strain on the playing venue already showing signs of wear down the corridor …

Thursday-Wednesday, May 28-June 3, 1992

<||> Effects of the Tuesday State-of-Origin match showed at the selection table with St Kilda unable to name TONY LOCKETT as Fitzroy recast their forward line covering the loss of RICHARD OSBORNE … arthroscopic surgery successfully repaired a tear in the cartilage lip of the hip socket of Hawthorn’s 27-year old forward DERMOTT BRERETON, who hopes to return by the end of the season

ROUND 11 – Sat-Sun, May 30-31
Carlton 14.15-99, Melbourne 10.5-65
Richmond 22.10-142, Brisbane 11.17-83
Fitzroy 13.13-92, Collingwood 13.11-89
Geelong 19.15-129, St Kilda 18.18-126
Essendon 16.20-116, Sydney 10.13-73
Footscray 16.13-109, Hawthorn 11.9-75
Adelaide 21.16-142, North Melb 16.11-107
bye: West Coast

<||> The last days of autumn were sunny for footy as six of the top sides met. Carlton at Waverley took a long time to shake off Melbourne; it was even-steven at the last change but the Blues zapped off 5.4 to nil to stun the Demons … Richmond were predictable victors at the MCG with Brisbane having only one goal to halftime – the Bears improved to add 10 goals but were still 59pts in arrears at the end … 26,173 at Princes Park saw Fitzroy 20pts up at the half and 27 at orange-time. Collingwood with CRAIG KELLY playing a great game as acting-captain in the absence of both Shaw and Daicos, fought a desperate fight and only with the last kick of the day – a goal from PAUL ROOS did the Lions clinch their fourth win-in-a-row and climb into the top six … at Kardinia Park, St Kilda led by almost five goals into the third term as form seemed to have deserted the free-scoring Cats until they produced a burst of 9-goals to get back into the fray. In the last it was goal for goal as Geelong stole the result to tip the Saints from the Six. STEWART LOEWE (StK) was almost a match-winner bagging 6.6 while BARRY STONEHAM (Gee) and Loewe’s opponent for most of the game was a leading light for the Cats … on Sunday at the MCG, Essendon after three defeats bounced back and never look liked losing to Sydney who were forced into an embarrassing number of skill errors; in a match devoid of sparkle, the Bombers were unlucky not to score by more than 43pts … Footscray under-lined its glamour-team status with a thorough 34pt win over reigning premiers Hawthorn at the Western Oval for the Bulldogs to go to outright leadership. Level at halfway, Scray with composure and class plus old-fashioned guts kicked 11-goals to six in the last half, confirming their right to challenge for this year’s title – sour notes for the Dogs was the broken leg suffered by defender PETER FOSTER and the KOLYNIUK booking by three umpires for striking … at Football Park to 36,312, Adelaide registered a long overdue win against North in a game which failed to reach great heights by two teams who have slipped from contention …

<||> legislation through both house of the Victorian Parliament ended the long outstanding battle between the Collingwood Council and the Magpies who now earn the right of ownership of their Social Club and a 50-year lease of the Victoria Park facility …

<||> NORTH MELBOURNE received unwelcome news their QANTAS sponsorship will end – believed to be worth $250,000 per season, the loss will place strain on the Kangas who reported a 1991 deficit of $371,000 …

<||> a busy week of Tribunal suspensions — STEVE KOLYNIUK (Fsc) was found guilty of striking PAUL HUDSON (Haw) and received two matches – TONY FREE (Rch) guilty of striking DAVID BAIN (Bri), four matches – ROD JAMESON (Ade) guilty of striking GLENN PAGE (NM), three matches – from video, BARRY MITCHELL (Syd) charged but found not guilty of striking SEAN DENHAM (Ess), on a reciprocal charge DENHAM received one week – PAUL DEAR (Haw) got four matches for tripping PETER FOSTER (Fsc) – RON DE IULIO (Car) guilty for striking DAVID SCHWARZ (Mel), one match – heaviest penalty of the season was the six weeks against ROD GRINTER (Mel) for striking GREG WILLIAMS (Car). It was Grinter’s seventh suspension (total 31 matches) of his 110-game career …

<||> Magpie fans breathed again when an exploratory shoulder arthroscope on 30-year old PETER DAICOS rejected the need for surgery, but the star will miss at least four weeks …

<||> St Kilda presented a $40-million plan to Moorabbin Council to develop Linton Street into a super-stadium complex …

Thursday-Wednesday, June 4-10, 1992

<||> Essendon 309-game veteran TERRY DANIHER is dumped from senior selection … on the strength of verbal evidence by SEAN DENHAM (Ess), BARRY MITCHELL (Syd) was charged with striking the same player he was cleared of hitting two days prior …

ROUND 12 – Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon, June 5-6-7-8
North Melb 10.6-66, West Coast 14.26-110
Essendon 19.16-130, Richmond 11.13-79
Fitzroy 11.18-84, Footscray 22.14-146
Brisbane 16.7-103, Melbourne 11.11-77
Carlton 13.12-90, Geelong 16.22-118
Hawthorn 15.12-102, Adelaide 15.13-103
Collingwood 11.10-76, St Kilda 10.17-77
bye: Sydney

<||> On Friday night West Coast pulled away from North and gathered a 44pt win in the miserably wet and difficult MCG conditions for the Eagles to post their fifth win in six games … the Saturday clash of the AFL’s Cinderella sides turned into a one-sided contest when Footscray kicked 11 goals to nil in the third to thrash a disappointing Fitzroy at Princes Park by 62pts – the Dogs pivot SIMON ATKINS was outstanding with 46 possessions … 35,967 at the MCG, after a even first term Essendon outplayed Richmond to show the emerging younger Bombers will still play a part in shaping the final six … heavier grounds on Sunday failed to rob 62,586 of MCG excitement and brilliance as GARY ABLETT (Gee) played a key role in the murk and mud to score a convincing 28pt win over Carlton, putting the Cats within a breath of top place … jumping from the blocks with seven goals, the Brisbane Bears scored a gritty victory over the Demons to just 5902 patrons at Carrara, giving hope the wooden spoon may be passed to another … Monday brought more rain and higher thrills for 80,060 fans who paid $405,845 at the MCG to see a classic Collingwood-St Kilda contest including the seemingly traditional all-in brawl at half-time. The game was a beauty which produced another thrilling one-point finish, the fourth such result of the last six meetings of these two clubs at the MCG … completing the round at Waverley, Adelaide produced a last-ditch sprint to snatch a one-point win over a Hawthorn who were uncharacteristically described by coach ALAN JOYCE as ‘deplorable’, ‘pathetic’ and ‘disappointing’ … the two one-point results were the first to occur in one-day’s League play since the second-part of R5 on Saturday April 29 1978 …

<||> amid continuing speculation Carlton were attempting a take-over of the North Melbourne club, Collingwood called for a further meeting with AFL Commissioners …

<||> new records were produced for the 12th round – 236,074 fans paid published gate takings of $1,102,311.60. Crowds were just under the new 1992 Anzac split round record of 239,820 but far-greater than the previous R12 figures in 1983 of 186,192 …

<||> Tribunal resulted in suspensions for – JOHN HUTTON (Bri) one match for striking JIM STYNES (Mel); WAYNE CAREY (NM) one match for striking GLEN JAKOVICH (WCE) – Carey in evidence stated, “I’ve hit my brother harder than that” — and a lot agreed! …

Thursday-Wednesday, June 11-17, 1992

<||> A six-hour Tribunal marathon engaged in legal argument resulted in Sydney rover BARRY MITCHELL being suspended for two matches for striking SEAN DENHAM (Ess) on May 31. The charge was brought on by AFL investigation officer MAX CROXFORD who cited Mitchell of ‘conduct unbecoming and likely to bring the Game into disrepute’ – it was the Swans first outing in his 158-game career. On Friday night the Victorian Supreme Court cast aside the suspension and Mitchell was granted a temporary injunction pending a trial of legal action against the AFL. It had been suggested Mitchell had been denied natural justice and subjected to ‘double jeopardy’ …

<||> BOB ANSETT steps down after a record 13-year term as president of North …

<||> two days of vivid speculation results in Collingwood agreeing to the AFL switch of the Magpies-Bulldogs R14 clash to a Sunday MCG meeting …

<||> the AFL admits to a deficit of $2-million in the season’s revenue due to a shortfall on MCG memberships ...

ROUND 13 – Sat-Sun, June 13-14
Haw 22.13-145, Fit 13.11-89
NM 17.13-115, Gee 29.18-192
Car 17.13-115, Ade 13.14-92
StK 24.13-157, Syd 15.14-104
Fsc 25.11-161, Mel 8.6-54
Bri 12.13-85, Ess 18.11-119
WCE 8.14-62, Col 8.15-63
bye: Richmond

<||> In the key Saturday match at Waverley Park, Fitzroy let Hawthorn jump away to a 6-goal lead from which the Lions gamely fought back closing the gap to just 9pts. But three quick goals to the Hawks blew out to 56pts at the final siren – it was GARY AYRES (Haw) 250th senior appearance … a booming 10-goal opening stanza by the Saints at Moorabbin was just the overture to the star-performer TONY LOCKETT (StK) who kicked a personal-best of 15.4 (6-3-3-3). To give the Swans everlasting credit they didn’t give up without a fight by were still 53pts down at the end … in an extremely physical encounter, the Crows had more possessions but were less mature and found Carlton on-target when it counted. Adelaide were unable to apply the pressure needed in the closing stages when the Blues kicked away with ADRIAN GLEESON (Car) having an outstanding match … at the MCG, the Cats MARK BAIRSTOW gave a best-afield showing in his 100th as Geelong went on to another big score and a 77pt win over North in a game which produced a third-term total of 16.10 – while Geelong won by a mile, they never buried the Kangas … with a complete team-effort, Footscray on Sunday recorded their third 100pt-plus victory over Melbourne at the Western Oval for their Scraggers to maintain their leader role … Essendon with forward PETER SOMERVILLE always under notice and PAUL SALMON back (4 goals), the Bombers were never seriously threatened by the Bears at Carrara … in Perth, Subiaco was under water after heavy rain and seemingly the Eagles had contained Collingwood to a losing tally two-minutes before added-time of the third term, 8.8 to 3.7 – West Coast were goalless for the remainder of the game while the Magpies found new energy to clinch a thriller with their third single-digit result in three games, 3-1-1 – MICK McGUANE (Col) had a great game but a dirty-day kicking 1.6 … leading players require knee reconstructions following the weekend — CRAIG KELLY (Col), STEVEN STRETCH (Mel) and JOSE ROMERO (NM) putting all three out for the remainder of 1992 …

<||> Tribunal results – GRAEME YEATS (Mel) three matches for striking NIGEL KELLETT (Fsc) – DALE LEWIS (Syd) one match for striking NATHAN BURKE (StK) …

<||> AFL in talks with a consortium bidding for a Pay-TV licence …

<||> NORTH MELBOURNE football and cricket clubs granted a further 21-year lease extension at Arden Street beyond 1997 by the Melbourne City Council …

Thursday-Wednesday, June 18-24, 1992

<||> AFL conducts mid-season draft … wrestling by players in games comes under scrutiny following wide publicity of incidents in the ST KILDA v SYDNEY game, but no charges are laid … knee operation sidelines JOHN KLUG (Ade) ...

ROUND 14 – Fri-Sat-Sun, June 19-20-21
North Melb 20.17-137, Brisbane 16.6-102
Hawthorn 8.12-60, West Coast 11.8-74
Richmond 15.18-108, St Kilda 24.13-157
Fitzroy 20.13-133, Carlton 17.12-114
Collingwood 11.16-82, Footscray 11.10-76
Sydney 11.17-73, Geelong 24.14-158
Adelaide 14.8-92, Essendon 21.10-136
bye: Melbourne

<||> North ended an 11-month, 8-game losing streak to beat the Bears by 35pts on a chilly Friday night at the MCG … in a crucial test at Waverley, Hawthorn enjoyed early dominance but the Eagles grabbed the initiative just before halftime and the subdued Hawks went down by 14pts – JOHN PLATTEN (Haw) played his 150th … St Kilda toyed with Richmond at the MCG – TONY LOCKETT kicked 7.1 to halftime then was benched with a hamstring – STEWART LOEWE continued his superb form with 8.4 and 18 marks as the Saints after leading by 15-goals eased-back to win by just eight … Carlton were well in control until mid-third term then a spectacular mark by PAUL ROOS launched the Lions – the lead constantly changed with Fitzroy going away by 15pts to dent the Blues finals hopes … 67,835 were at the MCG at the MCG to watch Footscray stretch Collingwood to its sixth-straight breathlessly-tight finish – the widest margin all day was 13pt and the last term played on a knife edge – the Magpies won by a goal … in Sydney, the Swans jumped Geelong early but the Cats steadied despite injuries and cruised to an effortless 75pt victory and take over League leadership from Scray … Essendon produced a barnstorming 10-goal last quarter to inflict the Crows third Football Park defeat with a 44pt win to 43,163 fans …

<||> the 14th round gathered 207,124 fans, topping 1991s 171,774 …

<||> Geelong’s injury-prone ruckman DAMIEN BOURKE dislocated a shoulder at the SCG predicted to sideline him for 10 weeks …

<||> Hawthorn captain GARY AYRES suffers a torn achilles tendon – surgery and recovery likely for the rest of the season …

<||> VSFL Tribunal found CRAIG O’BRIEN (StK) guilty of ‘harassing and intimidating a field umpire’ – it was alleged O’Brien on June 3 after being suspended three weeks for striking had abused umpire GRAEME FALLET in the car park, then followed him through Richmond making threatening gestures from his car – O’Brien was suspended for a further seven weeks …

<||> Moorabbin Council rejected St Kilda’s development proposal for Linton Street strengthening the prospect of the club playing future seasons at Waverley …

<||> fullback GARY PERT (Col) via video, cleared of tripping charge – JASON BALDWIN (Fit) was cleared of striking …

Thursday-Wednesday, June 25-July 1, 1992

<||> Trio of Carlton players appear in their 150th senior matches – STEPHEN KERNAHAN, CRAIG BRADLEY and GREG WILLIAMS, the first occasion three players had played their 150th in the same match since Saturday September 2nd 1972 when CARL DITTERICH, BOB MURRAY and BRIAN MYNOTT recorded this feat for St Kilda against Hawthorn at Glenferrie Oval – that day the Saints won; for the Blues at Waverley in 1992 it was a 3pt loss …

ROUND 15 – Fri-Sat-Sun, June 26-27-28
Adelaide 22.17-149, Sydney 13.4-82
Richmond 19.9-123, Carlton 17.18-120
Essendon 9.8-62, West Coast 20.17-137
St Kilda 18.9-117, North Melb 16.13-109
Melbourne 16.13-109, Fitzroy 13.9-87
Geelong 14.18-102, Footscray 14.9-93
Brisbane 15.14-104, Hawthorn 16.12-108
bye: Collingwood

<||> 31,593 at Football Park on Friday night saw the Crows keep their slim hopes alive with a 67pt thrashing of an insipid Swans outfit though SIMON MINTON-CONNELL (Syd) earned plenty of plaudits with 8.0 from 13,4 … on a sunny Saturday at Waverley, Richmond after leading most of the day almost let the match slip in the dying minutes but grimly held on handing out a shock defeat for Carlton … the Eagles mid-season resurgence continued as they destroyed a lack-lustre Essendon with PETER SUMICH in wonderful touch but kicking an astray 11.8 at the MCG … St Kilda despite a 9-goal haul from TONY LOCKETT limped to an unimpressive 8pt win over North at Moorabbin … the three Sunday games were all thrillers – Geelong earned its top billing but the Scraggers demonstrated itself as a worthy contender in an absorbing Kardinia Park contest – Geelong looked to have it, the Scray came back to lead in the dying minutes but two quick goals from Cat captain MARK BAIRSTOW claimed a 9pt Corio Bay result … Hawthorn climbed back up into the Six, grateful for a last gasp goal from TONY HALL after the Bears had led by 20pts, nine minutes from the end at Carrara … Fitzroy in their MCG encounter faltered in the last quarter to let a rejuvenated Melbourne home by 22pts – the Roys RICHARD OSBORNE back after a broken jaw was booked for wrestling under a charge of misconduct and on Monday found guilty and suspended for one match …

<||> NEIL CORDY (Syd) again dislocated his left shoulder and at 33 puts his future in doubt, as injury-plagued JASON LOVE retires after 45 senior games with both North and Sydney …

<||> WAYNE CAREY (NM) cleared of striking charge …

<||> North Melbourne seek out ALLEN AYLETT to return as president next season …

<||> the indestructible Magpie prez ALLAN McALISTER pushes for a review of the AFL saying it was time for the entire Commission was reappraised …

<||> in a cost-cut, North axe football manager MICHAEL BROWN aiming a reason for the AFLs revised budget shortfall of $170,000 per club …

<||> AFL Players Association calls for review of umpiring operations and labelled Tribunal decisions as inconsistent …

<||> VFA club FRANKSTON lodges appeal and video on performance of umpires GRAEME FALLET and GEOFF MORROW – Fallet was the umpire involved when Saints VSFL player CRAIG O’BRIEN received seven weeks, as St Kilda indicated it would appeal the suspension …

Thursday-Wednesday, July 2-8, 1992

<||> Leaks appearing in the media from a confidential AFL report suggesting the possible relocation of either the SYDNEY SWANS or the BRISBANE BEARS are strongly denied …

ROUND 16 – Fri-Sat-Sun, July 3-4-5
West Coast 15.19-109, Melbourne 13.9-87
Essendon 16.15-111, St Kilda 11.17-83
Carlton 27.17-179, Brisbane 12.8-80
Collingwood 24.17-161, Richmond 14.14-98
Footscray 22.11-143, Adelaide 8.8-56
Geelong 14.11-95, Hawthorn 16.18-114
Sydney 11.17-83, Fitzroy 21.10-136
bye: North Melbourne

<||> In Perth on Friday night, in an often spiteful encounter the Demons stopped the Eagles free-flowing game but still went under by 22pts … the Saints credibility suffered a setback as Essendon hammered home a 28pt win at the MCG with LOCKETT (on the eve of a glandular fever test) held goalless for the first time since 1988 and LOEWE suffering a damaged shoulder … Brisbane lost its 23rd consecutive game in Victoria when Carlton humiliated the Bears by 99pts at Princes Park … Collingwood were relentless in the last half crushing Richmond at Victoria Park in the return match for PETER DAICOS (7 goals) with SAVERIO ROCCA kicking six in his second game for the Maggies … Footscray were convincing 87pt victors over Adelaide at Waverley … JASON DUNSTALL (Haw) took just 54 minutes at Kardinia Park to bring up his 100 goals for the season as the Hawks led throughout over Geelong who failed the test – it was Hawthorn’s 13th win from the past 14 meetings – DARREN PRITCHARD (Haw) amassed 40 possessions – the 19pt margin was a performance more emphatic than the scoreboard showed … on Sunday at the SCG, Fitzroy were never challenged after PETER SARTORI in his overdue debut with the Lions goaled within 40 seconds of the start – it was the Swans seventh successive defeat – the 53pt win kept Fitzroy within striking distance of the Six …

<> Tribunal – CRAIG DEVONPORT (StK) guilty of tripping MARK MERCURI (Ess) and suspended for two matches – striking charge against DALE KICKETT (StK) withdrawn on video evidence …

<||> tests show TONY LOCKETT (StK) clear of glandular fever …

<||> a Tuesday night crowd of 32,984 at Football Park watched Victoria stage a desperate fightback after South Australia kicked away with 10.3 in the second term – the Big V went down by 13pts, 18.12-120 to 19.19-133 …

<||> the versatile JAMES MORRISSEY (Haw) dislocates a shoulder in a training mishap at Glenferrie …

<||> ruckman JAMES MANSON (Col) out of the seniors since R13 booked by two VSFL umpires and outed three matches for striking DES RYAN (Rch) …

Thursday-Wednesday, July 9-15, 1992

<||> Discussions aimed to make State of Origin footy involving Victoria, Queensland, SA, WA, and NSW, a showpiece of the code seem certain that one mid-season weekend will be set aside in 1993 …

<||> former Demon champion HASSA MANN takes over as CEO of Melbourne …

<||> 44-year old BARRY BREEN named new GM of TFL …

<||> bulk of clubs baulk at AFLs proposed draft concessions sought by BRISBANE and SYDNEY …

<||> AFLPA signals a more vocal attitude and possible industrial action in aiming for new collective bargaining agreement – seeking 10% of TV right and merchandising, $7500 minimum salary, 6-weeks annual leave, abolition of draft and salary cap, superannuation control, salary guarantee when injured, 4 weeks notice of delisting, shorter Foster’s Cup, representation on AFL Commission …

<||> Sunday Age exclusive reported key SYDNEY backers after spending $10-million are undecided on whether to renew licence – sporting section proclaims ‘The Smell of Death is in the Air’ …

ROUND 17 – Sat-Sun, July 11-12
Hawthorn 7.12-54, Carlton 9.12-66
Geelong 21.10-136, Melbourne 8.15-63
North Melb 18.11-119, Richmond 17.16-118
St Kilda 11.18-84, Footscray 15.7-97
Brisbane 9.10-64, Collingwood 14.19-103
Fitzroy 10.17-77, Essendon 11.14-80
West Coast 16.11-107, Sydney 8.6-54
bye: Adelaide

<> On Saturday, 27,347 at Moorabbin watched an injury-hit Footscray take the points – defeated coach KEN SHELDON said ‘St Kilda was beaten by a better side, more committed, better prepared and better at playing top-three football’ … for 52,481 fans at Waverley, Hawthorn on paper were stronger with the return of DERMOTT BRERETON (one kick, one goal, 3 handballs) and JOHN PLATTEN but were surprisingly slow and sloppy as a gritty Carlton seized the initiative to score their second win of the season over the Hawks who face the prospect of missing the finals for the first time since 1981 … Geelong at home allowed Melbourne a first term break but the inaccurate Demons (2.10) were moved down by 73pts over three power-laden quarters – the much-travelled GEOFF MILES (Col, Claremont, WCE, Gee) booted 7.2 for the Cats … at Princes Park just 11,186 saw a strange game played in patches with North just surviving with a one-point win over Richmond … at Carrara on Saturday night with a bare two-point lead, Collingwood kicked away in the last half to maintain their unblemished record over Brisbane … the Lions and Dons turned on the heat in nippy Hobart as the Essendon revival continued at NHO … West Coast were rated at 1/25 to win at Subi over Sydney – the Swans were competitive in the first term but the Eagles came away in a match which spurred little excitement …

<||> ST KILDA member and shareholders voted 8750 to 6555 to move from Moorabbin to play its home games at Waverley from next year – Collingwood and Footscray considering whether to block a $790,000 AFL offer for the Saints to relocate …

<||> Swans GM Barry Rogers confirms AFL decision to drop its charges against Sydney rover BARRY MITCHELL …

<||> former Swan of 115 games and present Essendon defender ANTHONY DANIHER will play his 100th game for his second club against Footscray. Daniher will be only the seventh player in VFL–AFL history to do so. The other six, DAVID CLOKE (Rch 218, Col 115), GARY DEMPSEY (Fsc 210, NM 120), RUSSELL GREENE (StK 120, Haw 184), IAN HAMPSHIRE (Gee 113, Fsc 111), BERNIE QUINLAN (Fsc 178, Fit 189), BARRY ROUND (Fsc 135, Syd 193) …

<||> PETER DAICOS (Col) up for his fourth career booking on video evidence for kneeing JOHN GASTEV (Bri) – the charge was dismissed. Magpie teammate CRAIG KELLY out for the season with a knee injury was suspended for three matches for charging MITCHELL WHITE (WCE) at Subiaco on June 14, with the Tribunal taking in account Kelly had been sidelined and back-dating the suspension …

<||> early quotes for the Brownlow from Darwin bookie BRIAN CLARKE has 3/1 Scott Wynd (Fsc), 5/1, Mick McGuane (Col), 6/1 Stewart Loewe (StK), 10/1 Paul Roos (Fit) and Gary Ablett (Gee) …

Thursday-Wednesday, July 16-22, 1992

<||> Victorian Premier JOAN KIRNER was one of the first players at FOOTSCRAY FC as the pokies became legal …

<||> the CATS, HAWKS, DONS and SAINTS boycott Victorian-based clubs meeting, aimed to challenge proposed AFL draft concessions as WEST COAST voices support for strengthening both SYDNEY and BRISBANE to resurrect the code in the northern states …

ROUND 18 – Fri-Sat-Sun, July 17-18-19
Sydney 14.12-96, Collingwood 17.12-114
Hawthorn 20.13-133, North Melb 14.12-96
Essendon 13.15-93, Footscray 10.17-77
Fitzroy 10.13-73, Brisbane 16.18-114
St Kilda 15.5-95, West Coast 3.11-29
Richmond 12.11-83, Geelong 24.21-165
Adelaide 9.13-67, Melbourne 18.8-116
bye: Carlton

<||> In Sydney on Friday night, 15,240 saw Colling-wood continue their charge toward the finals with a 3-goal win over a Swans outfit ever-desperate but lacking key players … Hawthorn led by 77pts at halftime over a lethargic North at Waverley but the Kangas found their pride to stage a worthy fightback to lose by only 37pts … Essendon boosted by PAUL SALMON’s seven goals recorded their seventh win from eight games when their tighter defence contained Scray at the MCG … Brisbane at Princes Park led all afternoon against Fitzroy to register their first success in Melbourne since August 26 1989, repeating their Waverley win of that day over the Lions – ROD OWEN (Bri) kicked 8.6 … Sunday was depth-of-winter football conditions and heaped heavy defeats for three — at Waverley where rain pelted down, St Kilda answered their critics with a desperate and ferocious blanketing of West Coast – two Saints NICKY WINMAR (37 possessions) and ROBERT HARVEY (36) carved up the Eagles … Geelong at the MCG were again the masters of Richmond with an 82pt drubbing … in Adelaide, the Crows were never in the hunt as Melbourne displayed their best form for months with an 8-goal victory …

<||> a highlight of the year arrived as Collingwood became the first club with on-the-road single-season wins in Perth, Adelaide, Carrara and on Friday night at the SCG …

<||> Tribunal – DEAN WALLIS found guilty of intentionally tripping STEPHEN KRETIUK (Fsc) and was suspended for three games – ROSS LYON (Fit) outed two games for striking JOHN GASTEV (Bri) – MICHAEL MURPHY (Ade) guilty of two separate striking charges against KEVIN DYSON and ANDREW GOODWIN (Mel), receiving a total of four matches – BRIAN LEYS (Rch) received two matches for striking DAVID MENSCH (Gee) …

Thursday-Wednesday, July 23-29, 1992

<||> Admitting the novelty factor, Footscray business manager DENNIS GALIMBERTI revealed $1-million had been through the Bulldogs 105 pokies in the first week of operation resulting in a four per-cent return of $40,000 …

<||> an important addition to football libraries came with the publication of The Encyclopedia of League Footballers by RUSSELL HOLMESBY and JIM MAIN featuring almost 10,000 names who have played at least one League game since 1897 …

<||> AFL Commission bowed to pressure from several clubs, announcing an independent review of its operations and deferment of its controversial five-year plan …

ROUND 19 – Fri-Sat, July 24-25
Col 10.23-83, Ess 8.13-61
Haw 7.13-55, StK 19.16-130
Mel 23.12-150, Rch 10.15-75
Car 15.18-108, NM 15.11-101
Fsc 15.13-103, Syd 8.9-57
Gee 12.5-77, WCE 15.6-96
Ade 21.6-132, Fit 7.5-47
bye: Brisbane

<||> A packed 88,066 turned out to the MCG on Friday night to watch an entertaining and desperate struggle as Collingwood dented Essendon’s finals surge with a 22pt win … a goalless last half seemed to signal the end of an era and the beginning of a new one as St Kilda crushed a weary Hawthorn to 43,122 fans at the Park on Saturday – 9.4 to 7.6 at the long break, the Saints kicked 10.12 to 0.7 racing to a 75pt victory – TONY LOCKETT (StK) kicked six goals, passing his third ton and registering the 761st of his career … regaining touch and key players from injury, Melbourne remained in winning vein with a 75pt success over a luckless Richmond at the MCG … Carlton at Princes Park with GREG WILLIAMS in sparkling form (42 possessions) held off a late North challenge to record the Blues third-straight win … Sydney led most of the day at Western Oval 'til the last term then Footscray blasted off 8.1-49 to a behind handing the Swans their 10th successive loss – a Bulldog worry, a growing injury list … Geelong were thrown off top perch crumbling to a physically committed West Coast at Kardinia Park … on Saturday night at Football Park the Crows salvaged much needed pride (TONY MODRA 7 goals) with a thumping 85pt thrashing of a disappointing Fitzroy …

<||> 19th round reflections — opening of the Barcelona Olympics awards an AFL footy-free Sunday; season crowds reach 3.44 million (up 400,000); the Eagles to play four of their last five in Perth; Geelong have easily defeated most, but struggled in the big ones; Carlton on track to be in the finals for the first time since 1988; Hawthorn’s fate to be decided by their 80’s arch-rival Essendon?; Collingwood keep on winning (six on-the-trot), with their crowds reaching 880,513, as the Magpies take over top position …

<||> Tribunal – EARL SPALDING (Car) cleared of charging CRAIG SHOLL (NM) –rookie HADYN ROBINS (Mel) guilty of striking STEVAN JACKSON (Rch) received a one match suspension …

<||> following two below-par performances, the future of Hawthorn champion DERMOTT BRERETON on hold for an indefinite period to rest his troublesome hip …

<||> suggestion for some finals to be played at night gets the thumbs down from most clubs …

<||> three players booked following video scrutiny – KARL LANGDON (WCE) received two weeks when found guilty of striking KEN HINKLEY (Gee) while ANDREW BEWS (Gee) was suspended the sixth time in 10 seasons, gathering three matches for unduly rough play against PETER MATERA (WCE) – MICHAEL LONG (Ess) was found not guilty of an unduly rough play charge …

Thursday-Wednesday, July 30-Aug 5, 1992

<||> Consideration being given to reducing quarters of play to 20-minutes plus time-on … Essendon committee has earmarked 1996 as the year players will be employed fulltime … existing 10-year old giant MCG colour screen to be replaced next October …

ROUND 20 – Fri-Sat-Sun, July 31, August 1-2
WCE 29.12-186, Bri 8.7-55
Fsc 24.8-152, NM 16.9-105
Ess 8.8-56, Haw 32.24-216
StK 14.18-102, Fit 10.24-84
Col 14.16-100, Mel 16.13-109
Rch 7.11-53, Ade 24.19-163
Syd 20.10-130, Car 21.13-139
bye: Geelong

<||> The Eagles set the pattern of the 20th round under the WACA light on Friday with a booming 131pt defeat of the Bears … only 13,373 were at Waverley to watch an accurate Bulldog combination overcome their injuries with a comfortable defeat of North for Scray to return to top place … 41,070 at the MCG anticipating a Hawk decline saw Essendon humiliated as a devastating Hawthorn cruised past the League’s 25th double-century score with a 160pt victory – DUNSTALL kicked 12 goals … the end of an era arrived with the 254th and final match at Moorabbin as 27,736 watched St Kilda struggle to an 18pt win over Fitzroy … Collingwood at home were jolted as a revamped Melbourne stunned the Magpies with their first defeat in seven matches to tumble from first place to third … on Sunday at the MCG, it was one-way freeway conditions as the Crows registered their biggest AFL victory with a 110pt drubbing of Richmond – SCOTT HODGES (Ade) kicked eight … at the SCG the Swans almost stole the game – it was a relieved Carlton who survived by just nine points in the Harbour City – SIMON MINTON-CONNELL (Syd) kicked seven, STEVE KERNAHAN (Car) six …

<||> Tribunal – PETER SOMERVILLE (Ess) was cleared of striking RAY JENKE (Haw) …

<||> the Tigers, down on their luck on-field, expect to be back in the black off-field in 1992 with a possible $100,000 profit …

<||> amid continuing negotiations the AFLPA won the right to administer their own superannuation fund …

Thursday-Wednesday, August 6-12, 1992

<||> CUB to terminate its major sponsorship of Carlton by December 31, one year early …

<||> following the lodgement of an official complaint by FITZROY the AFL Commission decided to take no action against TONY LOCKETT (StK) following an incident at Moorabbin last Saturday involving the Lions fullback ALASTAIR LYNCH …

<||> in major selection shake-ups, Geelong axed BILLY BROWNLESS (he was re-instated), STEVEN HOCKING, DAVID MENSCH and MARK NEELD while the Eagles dumped CHRIS LEWIS …

ROUND 21 – Fri-Sat-Sun, August 7-8-9
NM 15.21-111, Syd 11.14-80
Haw 11.16-82, Col 8.15-63
Mel 13.16-94, Ess 19.12-126
Fit 10.8-68, Gee 17.18-120
StK 12.15-87, Car 18.14-122
Bri 11.11-77, Ade 17.8-110
WCE 15.14-104, Rch 12.12-84
bye: Footscray

<||> The Kangas were off-target at the MCG on Friday night as the Swans stumbled to a dozen losses … old-time, hard-slogging footy was the order on a good Waverley surface of Saturday to 53,369 fans – in an absorbing tussle Collingwood fell to Hawthorn by 19pts as PAUL HUDSON (Haw) kicked six goals and BRAD HARDIE made his debut as a Magpie – the game marked Hawthorn’s 16th success from 18 over the Woods in ten seasons … opening with an eight-man defence Essendon contained Melbourne early then set down to the task, going on to a 32pt MCG win … Geelong at Princes Park continued Fitzroy’s rapid decline – the match highlight was GARY ABLETT’s goal from the centre to the eastern-end 17 minutes into the first, the Cats coasted in by 52pts … 50,883 at the Park on Sunday saw St Kilda cruising against Carlton, 7.10 to 4,4 at halftime – Blues coach DAVID PARKIN moved JON DOROTICH and PETER DEAN forward sparking 11,3 for the third, blacking out the Saints – GREG WILLIAMS (Car) still limping from a Sydney shin injury was booked for the 13th time for charging and striking – NICKY WINMAR (StK) also went in the book … to a meagre 4603 fans at Carrara, Brisbane folded in the last term to allow Adelaide score a 33pt win … in slippery, greasy Subiaco conditions where West Coast were expected to score easily, the Eagles were well-challenged by Richmond with a last term difference of just two points – the West struggled home by 20pts but their injury-list grows …

<||> 21st round reflections — only one game separates first and sixth as Geelong return to top place in the third leadership change in as many weeks; West Coast up to third; Collingwood who looked a Million Dollars a fortnight ago slump to fourth after two losses; St Kilda now sixth under pressure; Carlton with five straight goes to 5th; Hawthorn to play Richmond, a bye, then Melbourne are still four points outside in 7th place …

Sunday Herald–Sun story of high-level talks aiming at a Melbourne-Richmond merger – both clubs on Monday strongly deny claims but journo GERARD HEALY sticks to the story …

<||> commentator BRUCE McAVANEY signs with Channel 7 until 1995 …

<||> Tribunal – both WILLIAMS (Car) and WINMAR (StK) were cleared of Sunday’s charges …

<||> Chief Commissioner ROSS OAKLEY announces appointment of DAVID CRAWFORD of KPMG to conduct an independent review of the AFLs administrative structure …

<||> video scrutiny of the 21st round raises no charges yet TONY LOCKETT (StK) is again the centre of controversy as a Sunday incident versus Carlton is highlighted by 3AW footy anchor REX HUNT – St Kilda officials issue a warning to leave Lockett alone …

<||> GREG WILLIAMS long-term knee injury causes concern in Carlton camp …

<||> after a video check STEVAN JACKSON (Rch) was suspended two matches for striking MITCHELL WHITE (WCE) …

Thursday-Wednesday, August 13-19, 1992

<||> As a consequence of Sunday’s newspaper story, solicitors for RICHMOND issued a letter to The Herald–Sun and author GERARD HEALY requiring a retraction and apology …

<||> the AFL struck a new TV deal with Broadcom’s Paris-based STEVE COSSER which is believed will result in several hundred thousand dollars over three years, extending overseas coverage of the code – the present Channel 7 contract believed to be worth $45-million goes to the end of 1995 – next bids will embrace the League’s Centenary …

<||> Sydney’s GARY BUCKENARA slams Channel 7 for its lack of coverage in NSW as outlet relegates Saturday ‘live’ telecasts to 3.08pm bounces …

<||> concern in Geelong camp as hamstring injury to GARY ABLETT is serious enough suggesting it may end his season …

ROUND 22 – Fri-Sat-Sun, August 14-15-16
West Coast 14.22-106, Fitzroy 10.16-76
Richmond 13.8-86, Hawthorn 25.20-170
Carlton 19.22-136, Footscray 7.12-54
Geelong 23.13-151, Brisbane 9.4-58
North Melb 14.8-92, Collingwood 14.14-98
Sydney 13.10-88, Melbourne 21.13-139
Adelaide 13.15-93, St Kilda 10.17-77
bye: Essendon

<|| on Friday night at the WACA the Eagles led throughout but never quite shook off Fitzroy – PETER SUMICH on the eve of the finals pulled a hamstring … Hawthorn’s   JASON DUNSTALL produced a double-barrel assault on the Tigers following-up his 17 goals of R7 by kicking another 12 at the MCG (yielding his 775 career goal from 166 matches, averaging 4.67) as the Hawks racked up a 14-goal victory over Richmond … even-money at the bounce Carlton at Princes Park gave Footscray their equal in a match willing at times – the Blues GREG WILLIAMS silenced his media critics with an inspired effort, while STEVE KERNAHAN confirmed his value with another 7-goals as Carlton posted their sixth-straight in slaughtering Footscray by 82pts to 30,935 fans … at Kardinia Park it was first versus 15th when Geelong withstood Brisbane’s blatant opening aggression to maintain top-place authority with a commanding 93pt win … Collingwood on Sunday at the MCG seemingly in control with a 36pt break early in the last term, then North blasted off a seven-goal burst with the Maggies reviving, then just surviving by six-points … save for a brief first quarter period, Melbourne were always in control at the SCG with SIMON MINTON-CONNELL (Syd) with six goals playing another lone hand as the Swans slumped to 13-straight losses … under lights on Sunday night to R22s biggest of 38,675, Adelaide after an uncertain start steadied and pitched St Kilda out of the Six, sealed with a mongrel punt from Crow captain CHRIS McDERMOTT ten minutes from the end – it was Adelaide’s fourth on-the-trot, their AFL best …

<||> Reflections – Hawthorn into the Six on percentage and the Saints down to 7th, both with a bye to come and both playing Melbourne to end the minor season – a booming R23 confrontation looms with Carlton against the wobbling Woods at Waverley …

<||> Monday’s Tribunal found MATTHEW HOGG (Car) guilty of striking BRIAN ROYAL (Fsc), he received three weeks — a tripping charge against GLEN ARCHER (NM) was withdrawn – DAVID JOHNSON (Fit) received a one-match suspension for striking BRETT HEADY (WCE) – from Sunday, DARREN BENNETT (Mel) was cleared of charging PAUL KELLY (Syd) …

<||> an aftermath of the BARRY MITCHELL case reached the Victorian Supreme Court when Mr Justice Gobbo ruled the AFL Tribunal’s two-match suspension for unbecoming conduct in that the Sydney rover brought the game into disrepute was ‘void and of no effect’, suggesting other AFL procedures may be open to legal challenge …

<||> the Bears and BRISBANE CRICKET GROUND TRUST reach agreement for the Brisbane club to move to the BCG on a 33-year lease extending to 2025. The Queensland Government has committed $1.5 million to upgrade facilities at the Gabba, moving the dog track to Albion and enlarging the BCG to an oval size of 170m x 140m – the Bears will move in October, earthworks to start in January to ready everything for the Bears 3rd round fixture on Sunday April 11 …

<||> ICI, a Footscray saviour in 1989, extends its sponsorship of the Bulldogs a further three years …

Thursday-Wednesday, Aug 20-26, 1992

<||> Cited on video scrutiny PETER WORSFOLD (Bri) pleaded guilty to striking KEN HINKLEY (Gee) in the rugged Kardinia Park clash, he was suspended for six weeks …

<||> AFL membership figures show ADELAIDE the outstanding leader with 38,673, West Coast 23,902, Collingwood 18,921, Geelong 13,535, Carlton 12,354, Hawthorn 12,338, St Kilda 11,650, Essendon 10.034, Footscray 9311, Melbourne 8681, Richmond 8158, North 6083, Brisbane 5401, Fitzroy 5177, with Sydney the ugly duckling on 3020 …

<||> Fitzroy say they will not play further games in Tasmania without guarantees and may return to Victoria Park with Collingwood …

<||> return to footy by DERMOTT BRERETON (Haw) frustrated by training mishap, gashing his knee on a sprinkler during training at Glenferrie Oval …

<||> AFL scraps plans for 1992 night final …

ROUND 23 – Sat-Sun, August 22-23
Carlton 12.14-86, Collingwood 15.12-102
Essendon 20.19-139, North Melb 10.11-71
Fitzroy 20.13-133, Richmond 14.14-98
Brisbane 19.15-129, Sydney 9.16-70
Melbourne 6.7-43, St Kilda 8.10-58
Footscray 7.11-53, West Coast 3.5-23
Adelaide 24.25-169, Geelong 11.12-78
bye: Hawthorn

<||> In the tradition of their previous 204 encounters, 77,357 at the Park on Saturday watched another full-blooded Carlton v Colling-wood clash which produced another grandstand finish with just 16pts difference at the siren, securing the Maggies a place in the Six and putting the Blues prospects on a knife-edge … the Bombers and the Roos at the MCG were neck-and-neck at halftime but the wisdom of Sheedy’s youth policy paid off as Essendon cut North to ribbons in the last two quarters, going on to a 68pt victory – for the Dons JOE MISITI had a great debut while 19-year old GAVIN WANGANEEN was outstanding … Fitzroy at Princes Park broke a six-game losing streak to send the Tigers skulking away with their 8th-successive loss … the Bears after just 62 matches farewelled the Carrara venue with a thorough thrashing of the Swans on Saturday night … Sunday brought foul-conditions but 30,548 at the MCG watched a tight struggle with the Saints TONY LOCKETT proving a difference with four last-quarter goals as St Kilda stayed alive and back in the Six … Footscray wrought sweet-revenge for their R8 Subiaco thrashing when they got the Eagles on a Western Oval mudheap, holding West Coast goalless until the last quarter and to their second-lowest AFL tally – now the Doggies were secure, and equal top … possibly the biggest surprise of the round was the meek capitulation by Geelong to a new AFL record Football Park crowd of 46,454 as the Adelaide Crows were merciless, recording their second-biggest AFL win by 91pts – SCOTT HODGES (Ade) kicked their biggest-yet bag of AFL goals with 11 …

<||> crowds for the round were over 200,000 for the 8th-time in 1992 as Four Million fans were passed …

<||> Reflections — a League bonanza as the permutations and possibilities of finals placings would take the season right down to the wire …

<||> Tribunal – JASON MOONEY (Syd) two matches and DARRYL WHITE (Bri) one match for striking at Carrara …

<||> MELBOURNE assessing Junction Oval as a training and social club base …

<||> JOE RUGOLO (Sandringham) with 19 votes win VFA LISTON MEDAL from three equal-raters on 16, TOM SHELTON (Prahran), PAUL WILLIAMS (Frankston) and SIMON CLARK (Springvale) …

<||> ABC-TV extends VFA cover until 1997 …

Thursday-Wednesday, August 27–September 2, 1992

<||> Warning to clubs on behind-play wrestling by umps-director BILL DELLER, for the fourth time in 12 months …

ROUND 24 – Fri-Sat-Sun, August 28-29-30
Sydney 13.17-95, Richmond 18.17-125
Geelong 16.14-110, Essendon 9.10-64
Melbourne 20.10-130, Hawthorn 22.17-149
Fitzroy 14.12-96, North Melb 19.16-130
Collingwood 13.9-87, Adelaide 11.16-82
Footscray 19.17-131, Brisbane 11.8-74
West Coast 18.12-120, Carlton 12.15-87
bye: St Kilda

<||> On a bleak Friday night Sydney and Richmond stubbornly fought for 92s wooden spoon with the Tigers prevailing over the Swans 30pts – fittingly STEVE WRIGHT in his 246th and farewell SCG game for the Swans kicked their last and his 247th goal … proving sentiment still exists Essendon elevated both SIMON MADDEN (379th) and TERRY DANIHER (313) for their last senior appearance against Geelong at the Park but the Cats spoiled the party with a 46pt success to stay on top … in a nothing game at Princes Park, welcome victory came for Wayne Schimmelbusch as North won by 34pts from Fitzroy … at Victoria Park 28,990 watched as the Crows gave the Magpies a nail-biter with Collingwood surviving again for their seventh result of the season by a goal or less … Brisbane were no match at the Western Oval as Footscray an 8.7 last term retained second place with a 57pt win … the best of Saturday was watched by 42,549 at the MCG – around noon sadly DERMOTT BRERETON (Haw) attempting a comeback in the twos, jarred his hip, twisted his ankle, and suffered a confrontation with a spectator – after 189 games it may be the end. In the main game, Melbourne showed great last term spirit yet HAWTHORN scored a 19pt victory as the Hawks equalled Melbourne’s 1954-64 and Carlton’s 1978-88 records of making the finals for 11 consecutive seasons – ANDY COLLINS (Haw) played his 100th successive match … the Final Six was firmed in Perth on Sunday at a wet Subiaco as the Eagles blitzed Carlton early and held on for a 33pt win ...

<||> the Final Six, GEELONG 64, FOOTSCRAY 64, COLLINGWOOD 64, WEST COAST 62, HAWTHORN 56, ST KILDA 56, with Carlton finishing seventh on percentage also on 56 …

<||> LEIGH MATTHEWS' new contract with Collingwood until 1997 will extend his term to 12 years, second only to JOCK McHALE’s 38 seasons …

<||> the awards – CHRIS MAINWARING (WCE) was ABC Radio Footballer of the Year; MICK McGUANE (Col) took The Sunday Age prize; SCOTT WYND (Fsc) scored the Herald-Sun honour; PAUL ROOS (Fit) and MICK McGUANE (Col) shared The Age trophy; in the 3AW award PAUL ROOS (Fit) pipped CHRIS McDERMOTT (Ade) who was again second to SIMON ATKINS (Fsc) for the Channel Seven crown …

<||> highpoint of Round 24 was the Subiaco booking of KARL LANGDON (WCE) on the uncommon charge of ‘allegedly interfering with boundary umpire Neale during the second quarter’. The Tribunal heard the charge for three hours but found it was not sustained – MICHAEL LONG (Ess) was guilty of striking ADRIAN HICKMOTT (Gee) and suspended one week …

<||> though PETER FILANDIA (Ess) had 23 votes he missed the Gardiner Medal due to suspension – the VSFL award to MARK DWYER (StK) with 16 votes …

<||> the Morrish Medal which from 1946-1991 was the League’s Under 19 trophy went to BRAD SMITH (Northern Knights) of the AFLs Under-18 competition …

<||> following a generally mild Winter, Spring arrived as figures showed the 64.6ml rainfall in August had been Melbourne’s wettest compared with June 45ml and July 26.8 …

<||> TV ‘spy’ cameras will be aimed at behind-play incidents in the finals …

<||> Sydney Swans owners MIKE WILLESEE, PETER WEINERT and CRAIG KIMBERLEY met with AFL Commissioners to plead their case for concessions …

<||> live TV ruled out even though Saturday’s Waverley elimination was an expected 75,000 sell-out …

Thursday-Wednesday, September 3-9, 1992

<||> First shock of next season came with JOHN NORTHEY’s same-day resignation as MELBOURNE coach after seven seasons and his appointment to head RICHMOND for three years, replacing ALLAN JEANS who left after just one year, the 59-year old marvel of 575 matches citing medical reasons …

<||> defying media speculation WAYNE SCHIMMELBUSCH was appointed full-time coach of NORTH MELBOURNE for 1993-94 …

<||> as the club heads for the BCG, the Brisbane Bears in a management shake-up surprised the football world when it dismissed its foundation manager SHANE O’SULLIVAN …

1st ELIMINATION
West Coast 14.16-100, Hawthorn 12.15-87

2nd ELIMINATION
St Kilda 13.13-91, Collingwood 12.11-83

QUALIFYING
Geelong 26.16-172, Footscray 17.9-111

<||> On Saturday at Waverley to 74,253, the Saints with STEWART LOEWE and ROBERT HARVEY having outstanding matches, proved too resolute for a brittle Collingwood line-up – the Magpies with too many of their stars shut down, squandered a second quarter mid-term lead of three goals for the Saints to record a thrilling 8-point victory and win their first in a final for 19 years – the match marked Collingwood’s 9th-match with a result of nine-points or less … on Sunday 68,753 MCG fans were certain they would see another close tussle as Geelong and Footscray struggled for ascendancy in the first half; after halftime the Cats revealed the class apparent in many other matches of the season as they blasted 15 goals to three in a power-house display to win by 61pts – BILLY BROWNLESS (Gee) kicked a record-breaking Qualifying 9-goals while DANNY DEL-RE booted eight for the Bulldogs … 40,237 Subiaco fans were treated as Hawthorn gallantly bowed out to the Eagles in a crowd and radio-tv pleasing final of excitement – in the third term, scores were level twice and changed six times. West Coast advanced to the Second Semi with a narrow 13pt success – JASON DUNSTALL in his Chase for the Magic 150 Goals, was thwarted by the loss – he added six to finish with 145 for the year …

<||> from weekend charges, the Tribunal took 10 minutes to find ruckman GREG DEAR (Haw) not guilty of kicking DEAN KEMP (WCE) – on trial-by-video, SPIRO MALAKELLIS (Gee) was found not guilty of striking DOUG HAWKINS (Fsc) …

<||> Eagles star CHRIS MAINWARING after Sunday’s final in Perth was booked again on drink-driving …

<||> RON EVANS, Bomber prez since 1988 to step down in December …

<||> an inflamed achilles tendon to sideline Saints captain DANNY FRAWLEY …

<||> a move to Sydney Showgrounds is mooted as the Swans wrangle with the SCG Trust over ground-signage and catering …

Thursday-Wednesday, September 10-16, 1992

<||> Putting rookies under the microscope Herald-Sun footy writers vote the 18, 187cm, 76kg, BEN HART (Ade) the AFL Recruit of the Year … after 14 arrests last week-end Vic Police set to swoop again on scalpers who face a $1000 fine …

1st SEMI-FINAL
Footscray 19.5-119, St Kilda 14.6-90

2nd SEMI-FINAL
West Coast 20.13-133, Geelong 14.11-95

<||> Saturday’s First Semi-Final at Waverley drew 59,712 hardy fans. MIKE SHEAHAN in his Sunday Age summation said – ’in conditions that depress most of us yet delight the boys from the Western Oval – a heavy ground and a cold stiff wind – the Bulldogs virtually had the game wrapped at halftime when they led by 37pts. The winning margin was only 29pts but it might as well been 29 goals”. An eight-goal last term made the board respectable but the Saints were thrashed by a committed Footscray who savagely exposed St Kilda’s lack of depth beyond Loewe, Harvey, Winmar and Lockett (4 goals) – CHRIS GRANT (5 goals) gave a four-quarter effort and his Footscray teammates a forward-target … 71,745 were at the MCG on Sunday as West Coast shut down Geelong’s highly-rated forward line recording an impressive 38pt victory to enter their second successive Grand Final. The Cats in the words of coach MALCOLM BLIGHT – “we didn’t win a quarter, what more can you say?” Performing as a disciplined unit the Eagles spread of talent was underlined covering injuries to BRETT HEADY and MICHAEL BRENNAN and the early loss of KARL LANGDON injured in a first quarter collision with GARY ABLETT. For West Coast, their speedy winger PETER MATERA won a blistering 35 possessions, with full-forward PETER SUMICH booting 8 goals …

<||> there were no weekend reports …

<||> complying with protocol the Eagles agreed to take their place in the traditional Bourke Street Mall parade on Grand Final Eve …

<||> PAUL ROOS won Fitzroy’s best club award for a fourth time …

<||> the much sought-after NATHAN BUCKLEY (Port Adelaide) already drafted by Brisbane, won the SANFL Magarey Medal …

Thursday-Wednesday, September 17-23, 1992

<||> AFL Players Association may apply to the Industrial Relations Commission for an award … Hawthorn spearhead JASON DUNSTALL won the AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL MEDIA ASSOCIATION’s Player of the Year Award …

PRELIMINARY FINAL
Geelong 22.17-149, Footscray 12.13-85

<||> In the first Preliminary Final played at the MCG since 1974, 71,841 saw Geelong crush Footscray by 64-points, as talent dramatically exposed the Bulldogs weaknesses, with the stats recording 87 to 39 marks for the Cats. Former Essendon ruckman JOHN BARNES with 26 possessions and 14 marks was clearly b.o.g., with BILLY BROWNLESS always dangerous but off-target with 5.6 while MARK BAIRSTOW played the leadership role with 31 touches – it was the 100th game for GARRY HOCKING who bagged his 100th goals …

<||> with a game to go, reports were down to a season of 66 from 94 last year …

<||> one of the original 1984 AFL Commissioners PETER SCANLON tendered his resignation effective next January …

<||> after their most successful season for 20 years, the ST KILDA board asked director PETER HUDSON to stand down as Chairman of Selectors – Hudson declined, as Coach KEN SHELDON stated, “if he goes, I go” ...

GRAND FINAL WEEK —
<||> SCOTT WYND the 22-year old blonde FOOTSCRAY ruckman won the 65th Annual BROWNLOW MEDAL honour with 20 votes, ahead of 145-goal HAWTHORN forward JASON DUNSTALL on 18, with KEN HINKLEY the dashing GEELONG defender finishing third with 17 votes …

<||> STEPHEN KERNAHAN ended speculation of his return to Adelaide when he signed with Carlton for another three years …

<||> 3AW’s REX HUNT is rewarded as MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR ...

Saturday, September 26, 1992

THE GRAND FINAL
West Coast 16.17-113, Geelong 12.11-83.

September as one of the wettest in Melbourne since 1920 showed out with persistent rain early in the week but it blossomed to sunshine and 15 degrees for the big day as 95,007 watched on an incredibly-good MCG surface when WEST COAST created history as the first non-Victorian team to win the AFL Premiership Cup after just six years in the League.

The Eagles in their 144th League match overcame a sluggish start, but a blistering third term turned a two-goal half-time deficit into a 17-point lead at the last change.

Eagles wingman PETER MATERA kept the Sandgropers in the game early, paving the way for a win when his third goal gained the lead 10 minutes into the third quarter. Matera was best afield with five goals, winning the NORM SMITH MEDAL as teammate PETER SUMICH capped it off with six goals and 18 for the finals.

For Geelong, the 28-point loss was a bitter disappointment as their second Grand Final defeat in four seasons.

WEST COAST achieved their victory with chilling efficiency, ripping apart a talented Cats combination who had created many new record during the season.

A potent statistic, GEELONG may well have kicked the equivalent of 168 goals or 1006 points more than WEST COAST in the year — still the AFL Premiership Pennant was now across the Nullarbor, flying above the Perth Town Hall.